Classic Celebrity Christmas Ornaments

Try and imagine the 1950s and 1960s without Lucille Ball, Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, and Marilyn Monroe. You just can't do it.

While some of these folks outlived this time, their celebrity image was forged during this era. And what an era it was. A young nation was just assuming its place in the world as a super power, kids were ducking under their desks to avoid impending nuclear attacks, and television was just finding its way into everyone's home. We learned where a place called Viet Nam was - and domino was given a new definition.

Watching Ed Sullivan on a Sunday night was the place to be. The country watched as Elvis sang, but we didn't see his hips - at least in the beginning. Since he insisted the movement was necesary for his singing, Ed Sullivan mollified the censors by only allowing camera shots from the waist up. Later we were allowed to see all the scandalous movements. Yes it was a time of innocence. Elvis Presly wasn't all hilps either. He had quite a collection of Gospel songs in his act. But that's not what people turned into see.

And it wasn't just Elvis who kept the censors busy either. Lucille Ball was PREGNANT and she wasn't hiding. In fact we even got to see Lucy and Ricky's bedroom (albeit with separate beds). And it was a culturally diverse marriage as well. But it was the comedy that people loved. Lucy and Ethel and their hijinx. Fred and Rick as the straightmen were perfect.

First teeny boppers swooned at a young Frank Sinatra's concerts then their mother's swooned at the movies. The Rat Pack ruled Las Vegas and we were told it was Sinatra's World and we were just visiting.

A stunning Marilyn Monroe sang Happy Birthday Mr. President and she became forever entangled with two assasinations and her own mysterious death.

Unlike some of the celebrities today, who are just celebrities for the sake of fame and a reality television show, Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra, Lucille Ball and Elvis Presley began with talent that was so awesome, you say a single word and many of us (who weren't even born) can picture the comedy skit or sing the song.

Yeah they were all eye-candy, but could they perform. Whatever they did, they moved their art and their craft forward and made the the world of song and movies a far different place than when they entered it.

Say white dress and how many people say Marilyn Monroe? You can picture that iconic film moment right now, can't you? A bit racy? Perhaps. But unforgetable. Vitametavegamin is forever etched in our minds as Lucy makes a commercial. Frank Sinatra songs are the stuff of Karoke night everywhere.

These great performers might never have done Shakespeare, but they personified his belief that you should to thine own self be true. Not one of these people ever copied anyone else's style. That should be a lesson to us all.

I chose these 4 performers because in my mind there are truly American in spirit and represent our pop culture trends. I also selected them because of their contributions to their craft - and because they were such phenomonal entertainers. The Fifties and Sixties were also such a unique time, The Post World War II era was the first time that the rest of the world really took us seriously. The people who contributed to this era also established our world-wide image. Who would you choose to inlcude on your Christmas tree?